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FIRST NATION MENTAL HEALTH: A Curriculum on Mental Wellness & Mental Illness 2013
FIRST NATION MENTAL HEALTH:
A Curriculum on
Mental Wellness & Mental Illness
2013
Page 1 of 38
Inspired by the expressed wishes of Yukon First Nations’ health and social
departments this curriculum was developed under the direction of the Council of
Yukon First Nations in partnership with Mental Health Services, Yukon Government.
Funding was provided by Health Canada’s Health Services Integration Fund. This
curriculum was prepared by Leslie Knight, MSW, Whitehorse, Yukon. It was created
over a 6 month period in collaboration with Health and Social Programs staff from 5
Yukon First Nations:
Carcross Tagish First Nation
Champagne Aishihik First Nation
First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation
Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
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CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Mental Wellness ............................................................................................................................................................ 5
Principles of Mental Wellness ................................................................................................................................... 5
Determinants of Health (tab 1) ................................................................................................................................. 6
Physiological And Safety Needs ............................................................................................................................ 7
Supportive Responses ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Cultural Safety ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
Brain Care (tab 2) ...................................................................................................................................................... 9
Nutrition ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Flourish (tab 3) ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Positivity .............................................................................................................................................................. 13
Engagement ........................................................................................................................................................ 16
Relationships ....................................................................................................................................................... 17
Meaning .............................................................................................................................................................. 20
Accomplishment ................................................................................................................................................. 21
A Holistic Approach to Wellness ............................................................................................................................. 22
Mental Illness .............................................................................................................................................................. 25
Challenges to Mental Health (tab 4) ....................................................................................................................... 26
Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) ................................................................................................................... 26
Grief .................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Diagnostic Statistical Manual .................................................................................................................................. 27
Symptoms, Duration, and Presentation .............................................................................................................. 27
Clinical Disorders ..................................................................................................................................................... 28
Addiction and Mental Illness (tab 5) ................................................................................................................... 28
Depression (tab 6)............................................................................................................................................... 30
Anxiety (tab 7) .................................................................................................................................................... 31
Psychosis (tab 8) ................................................................................................................................................. 32
Personality Disorders .............................................................................................................................................. 33
Dependent Personality Traits & Disorder ........................................................................................................... 33
Borderline Personality Traits/Disorder ............................................................................................................... 34
Narcissistic Personality Traits/Disorder .............................................................................................................. 35
Summary ...................................................................................................................................................................... 36
bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................. 37
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INTRODUCTION
This curriculum on mental health is divided into two parts: mental wellness, and mental illness. Mental wellness
can both prevent mental illness and be nurtured when a mental illness is present.
Mental Wellness includes:
Determinants of Health Physiological and safety needs
Supportive responses
Cultural safety
Brain Care Nutrition Exercise
Flourish Positivity Engagement Relationships Meaning Accomplishment
A Balanced Approach to Wellness
Mental Illness includes:
Problems & Illnesses (including but not limited to):
Challenges to Mental Health Seasonal Affective Disorder
Grief
Clinical Disorders Addiction and Mental Illness
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis
Personality Disorders Dependent Personality Traits/ Disorder
Borderline Personality Traits/ Disorder
Narcissism Personality Traits/ Disorder
What is Mental Health?
“Mental health is defined as a state of well-being
in which every individual realizes his or her own
[abilities], can cope with the normal stresses of
life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to her or his
community.”
“The positive dimension of mental health is
stressed in the World Health Organization’s
definition of health as contained in its
constitution: "Health is a state of complete
physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
World Health Organization
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MENTAL WELLNESS
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MENTAL WELLNESS
PRINCIPLES OF MENTAL WELLNESS
Determinants of Health Physiological and safety needs
Supportive responses
Cultural Safety
Brain Care Nutrition
Exercise
Flourish
Positivity
An optimal balance of positivity and negativity:
3:1 ratio
Generosity
Gratitude
Forgiveness
Engagement
Being ‘in the flow’ and time seems to stop
Relationships
Safe and supportive
Conflict resolution
Trust and Betrayal
Meaning
Using our strengths to engage in something beyond ourselves
Pursued for its own sake and independent from positivity, engagement, relationships, and achievement
though these may be present
Accomplishment
Success for its own sake, not for monetary gain or approval
Not for pleasure, engagement or meaning, though these may be present
A Balanced Approach to Wellness Balance in all areas of our lives through the Medicine Wheel and A
Another Definition of Mental Health
“Mental health is the capacity to feel, think
and act in ways that enhance one’s ability to
enjoy life and deal with challenges.
Expressed differently, mental health refers
to various capacities including the ability to
understand oneself and one’s life, relate to
other people and respond to one’s
environment, experience pleasure and
enjoyment, handle stress and withstand
discomfort, evaluate challenges and
problems, pursue goals and interests and
explore choice and make decisions”.
Kirby and Leon, Canadian Mental Health Commission
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DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH Our health, including our mental health, is determined in
three primary ways, through the:
Social and economic environment
Physical environment
Person’s individual characteristics and behaviours
(Health Impact Assessment: The Determinants of Health)
According to Abraham Maslow in 1943, and social scientists since then, our needs are hierarchical with basic physiological and safety needs forming the base from which ‘higher’ needs may be addressed.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Social Determinants of Health
1. Income & Income Distribution
2. Education
3. Unemployment & Job Security
4. Employment & Working Conditions
5. Early Childhood Development
6. Food Insecurity
7. Housing
8. Social Exclusion
9. Social Safety Network
10. Health Services
11. Aboriginal Status
12. Gender
13. Race
14. Disability
Mokkonen and Raphael, Social Determinants of
Health: The Canadian Facts
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PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SAFETY NEEDS Healthy environments that meet our basic needs are the
foundation of mental health. Being safe is an important part of
wellness; without it; our capacity to turn our attention to
nutrition, exercise, and flourishing is compromised.
These challenges to mental wellness are appreciated within the
context of violence and other forms of oppression, internalized
and learned racism, abuse, addictions and mental illness, and
healing.
SUPPORTIVE RESPONSES Positive and supportive social response to critical incident, and
violence and other forms of oppression, provide safety and
security. When high levels of emotional and mental arousal
(meant to mobilize us to protect ourselves and our loved ones)
are quickly decreased within a safe environment, the likelihood
of the development of post trauma stress and mental illnesses is
greatly decreased. (Brymer, Psychological First Aid: Field
Operations Guide 2nd
Edition).
Alternatively, when the psychosocial response to critical incidents and violence is negative or not available, people
remain in high states of emotional and mental arousal in as they attempt to create safety for themselves and their
loved ones. When unsafe conditions persist for years there are inevitable attempts to manage high levels of
arousal through withdrawal, anger, addiction, self-harm and suicidality, depression and anxiety, to name a few
responses.
It is not uncommon for First Nation men and women, elders and youth, to experience challenges to their mental
health resulting from the negative social responses to their experiences of residential school, colonialization,
violence, and trauma.
WHAT TO DO?
Provide supportive responses to past and present trauma and
violence, including the following core actions of psychosocial first aid:
o Contact and engagement
o Safety and comfort
o Stabilization
o Ask what they need
o Provide what is needed
o Connect with more social supports
o Discuss ways to stay safe, be supported & to cope
o Link with supportive, collaborative services
No Blame/ No Shame
“The context of people’s lives
determine their health, and so blaming
individuals for having poor health or
crediting them for good health is
inappropriate. Individuals are unlikely
to be able to directly control many of
the determinants of health. These
determinants – or things that make
people health or not – include the
above and many factors, and many
others.”
Mokkonen and Raphael, Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts
Supportive Responses
“Supportive responses recognize
and honour the ways people resist
violence and other forms of
oppression, rather than
pathologizing them; and in doing
so address a wide variety issues
related to health lifestyles and
mental wellness.”
Richardson and Wade, Talking
Resistance Seriously
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CULTURAL SAFETY The concept of cultural awareness relates to all workers
of all backgrounds to be aware of their cultural values,
social norms, use of power, and perspectives. One’s
ability to relate to others is greatly enhanced through
cultural self-awareness. Trust and engagement has a
positive effect on people accessing mental health
services and participating in healthy wellness activities.
In Canada, according to the Canadian Association of
Nurses, “all registered nurses who graduate from nursing
programs in Canada should understand the relationships
between First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and the
Government of Canada” in order to “comprehend the
historical and contemporary contexts of Aboriginal
Peoples”. (Canadian Nurses' Association)
The goals of cultural safety are to engage in an on-going
process that involves:
Cultural self-reflection through engagement and
self-reflection
Understanding the relationships between First
Nations and the Government of Canada
Analysis of power imbalances and our use of
power
WHAT TO DO?
Take stock of your own traditions learned from childhood and in your adult life:
o Remember your childhood routines and what you learned about people and life.
o What messages have you internalized?
Notice your automatic thoughts and behaviours:
o How do you use your personal and professional influence and power?
o What judgments come readily and unbidden to your mind about yourself; about other people?
Seek supervision and consultation
“Cultural Safety is a concept
developed in New Zealand by nurses
working with Mãori that moves beyond the
traditional concept of cultural sensitivity
(being accepting to difference) to analysing
power imbalances, institutional
discrimination, colonisation and
relationships with colonisers. It develops the
idea that to provide quality care for people
from different ethnicities than the
mainstream, health care providers must
embrace the skill of self-reflection as a
means to advancing a therapeutic encounter
and provide care congruent with the
knowledge that cultural values and norms of
the patient are different from his/her own”.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_safety
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BRAIN CARE
“Can everyday acts and lifestyle factors play a role in treating or managing mental health problems, like anxiety
and depression? This is an important question because every year about 1 in 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with a
mental health problem; and twice that number, or about 40 percent of us, will experience a mental health
problem sometime in our life. It turns out that the answer to the question is yes, lifestyle changes can help treat or
manage a mental health problem”. www.yukonwellness.ca
Lifestyle changes to consider for mental wellness include nutrition and exercise:
Nutrition
A Healthy Diet
Water
Omega 3
Vitamin D3
Exercise
NUTRITION
A HEALTHY DIET
Eating well helps us to prevent diseases related to vitamin
and mineral deficiencies, such as: insufficient absorption;
dehydration; too much of some foods (sugar, saturated
fats, and caffeine) and our inability to process some foods.
Eating well also helps our mental health; we feel
emotionally well.
For reasons we do not always know, people with mental
health problems are more likely to have a weight problem.
This may be related to the mental health problem itself or
related to the treatment. This doesn’t mean we need to
stop medication but it may require a conversation with
your medical caregiver about changing medications, eating
differently, and/or becoming more active.
WATER
Dehydration (water deficiency in our body) can lead to
tiredness, dry skin, headaches and even depression. We
need water: most of our body is water!
It is suggested that we need to drink about 8 glasses a day or about 2 litres, but this depends on your level of
activity, weight and other things.
If you can’t stand plain water, there is still hope. You can drink juices and teas instead. Eating lots of fruit also helps
a lot. Even coffee has an ultimately hydrating quality but not as much as non-caffeinated drinks.
Weight & Mental Health http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/expertadvice/problems/eatingwellandmentalhealth.aspx
Water & Mental Health http://getoutofdepression.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/water-is-your-friend/
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OMEGA 3
Omega 3 plays an important role in the brain. Omega 3 can be
found in:
Salmon, halibut & tuna
Flaxseeds, walnuts & olive oil
Beans
Leafy green vegetables
Winter squash
Omega 3 fats should be 2% of our daily caloric intake. They are
damaged by heat so oils should not be cooked. We need diets that
include both Omega 3 and Omega 6. Most diets include enough
Omega 6 so supplementation of Omega 6 is usually not necessary.
VITAMIN D3
The sunshine vitamin (Vitamin D3) is important for our
general health. Several studies have linked adequate
Vitamin D3 to healthy brain functioning & mental health.
Humans receive Vitamin D3 from:
Sun exposure
Food
Supplements
The amount of Vitamin D3 we need in our diet varies
according to our age and exposure to sun (see the Eat Right
Ontario reference to the left). We need about 10 – 15
minutes of sun exposure at least twice a week on the face
arms, hands or back without sunscreen with a greater than
3 UV index for adequate amounts of Vitamin D3. In the
north it is difficult to have adequate sun exposure during
the winter months. There are therapeutic lights on the
market to use indoors to simulate the sun.
Foods with Vitamin D3 include:
Cod liver oil
Salmon & tuna
Fortified milk, orange juice, yogurt and margarine
Supplements can be found in grocery & health food stores.
S
Vitamin D3 & Mental Health
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201111/psychological-consequences-vitamin-d-deficiency http://www.cmaj.ca/content/182/17/1886.2.full http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Nutrients-(vitamins-and-minerals)/What-you-need-to-know-about-Vitamin-D.aspx http://www.msoe.edu/life_at_msoe/current_student_resources/student_resources/counseling_services/newsletters_for_mental_health/combating_the_winter_blues.shtml
Omega 3 & Mental Health http://getoutofdepression.wordpress.com/tag/mental-health/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15907142 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubme
d/20974418
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The amount of vitamin D3 you need depends on your age.
Age group Aim for an intake of international units (IU)/day
Stay below IU/day*
Infants 0-6 months old 400 1000
Infants 7-12 months old 400 1500
Children 1-3 years old 600 2500
Children 4-8 years old 600 3000
Children and Adults 9-70 years old 600 4000
Adults over 71 years old 800 4000
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women 600 4000
*This includes vitamin D from both food and supplements
Eat Right Ontario
Exercise
Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety,
depression, and negative mood and by improving self-
esteem and cognitive function. Exercise has also been found
to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social
withdrawal. (Sharma et al, Exercise for Mental Health)
Exercise can accomplish as much or more than an hour of
counselling per week and much more than another cup of
coffee.
Exercise:
Regulates weight
Builds physical strength
AND
Improves sleep
Improves self esteem
Reduces stress & anxiety
Calms the nerves
Improves mood
Enhances vitality
What is the optimal amount of physical activity for better mental health?
2.5 – 7.5 hours of exercise per week depending on your gender, age, and general physical health
Mental health may begin to decline with over 7.5 hours of exercise per week
Exercise & Mental Health http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti
cles/PMC1470658/
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FLOURISH From Martin Seligman’s book, Flourish, we learn that
flourishing in life is more than just a subjective sense
of happiness; it is much more than that.
Seligman identified 5 ways to flourish:
Positivity
Engagement
Relationships
Meaning
Accomplishment
Each of these measures studied by researchers and
found in positive psychology stand alone and is not
dependent on any other one. For example, while the
experience of positivity is subjective, none of the
others rely on a subjective experience of ‘feeling’
happy. And the experience of meaning does not rely
on accomplishing anything. And being engaged does not necessarily have to do with relationships or meaning.
Happiness is different from flourishing. We can flourish and not be happy. We can flourish and still experience
anxiety. We can flourish and have a mental disorder.
Flourishing Mental Wellness: Flourishing brochure What makes you happy? youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As-
g_dwgJig
***
Information sheet: Mental Wellness: Flourish
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POSITIVITY
Positive thoughts and emotions are the first element of mental wellness. They used to be our only measure of
happiness and well-being but now, according to Martin Seligman and other social scientists, how we feel is only
one of the elements.
Barbara Fredrickson (Positivity) studies and writes
about paying attention to the positives in our daily life.
Paying attention to the negatives in our life leads to
negativity. Not enough positivity leads to feeling
negative about life and to behaving in unhealthy ways.
Our positive and negative thoughts and emotions play
an important role in our mental health. Positivity is not
about ‘creating’ positives. Rather, positivity is about
noticing the positive aspects already taking place in our
lives. (Frederickson, Positivity)
There is a scientifically discovered tipping point
between positivity and negativity. Dr. Barbara
Fredrickson has discovered the optimal balance is 3:1;
three positives to every negative.
Negativity is not bad. We may need to pay attention to
what is negative around us for our emotional and physical survival. Alternatively, acceptance may be required as
the wise sage wrote in the Serenity Prayer.
Positivity activities:
Start a positivity journal. Throughout the day, or before you go to bed at night, write down your deeply felt
positive responses to events and observations of your day.
Register and complete the Positivity Ratio questionnaire as often as you want at:
http://www.positivityratio.com/index.php
Positivity
http://www.yukonwellness.ca/3to1.php
http://www.positivityratio.com/single.php
http://www.positivityratio.com/index.php
***
Information sheet: Mental Wellness: Positivity
Serenity Prayer
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and
the wisdom to know the difference.
Adapted from the prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr
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Gratitude
Gratitude is the personal experience of appreciation that leads to positivity. “Gratitude is many things to many
people. It is wonder; it is appreciation; it is looking on the bright side of a setback; it is fathoming abundance; it is
thanking someone in your life; it is thanking God; it is ‘counting blessings.’ It is savoring; it is not taking things for
granted; it is coping; it is present-oriented.” From The How of Happiness: A new approach to getting the life you
want by Sonja Lyubomirsky.
Gratitude activity:
Think of someone you appreciate. This person may be in your life now or someone who influenced you from the
past. Sit down and write a letter of gratitude. If the person is still alive, consider sending the letter to them. How
did you feel as you wrote the letter?
Generosity
By putting our time and energy into our relationships we can change ourselves in a positive direction. When we
share what we have with others, we experience being connected. As a human animal we rely on our ‘pack’ ; other
people are the best corrective when we are down and where we go to share our ‘ups’.
It has been said, if you are down and discouraged, do something for someone. The act of giving changes our
thinking (we become more positive) and changes our emotions (we feel happier).
“Helping others, volunteering, and working in groups are associated with an increased sense of self-worth and
positive feelings like happiness and life satisfaction. It turns out that giving has a greater impact on well-being than
receiving. Contributing to one’s community creates a sense of belonging and connectedness to others, and it
creates a stronger, more supportive and more inclusive community. When reciprocity – the act of giving and
receiving – becomes the community norm, we all benefit”. www.yukonwellness.ca
Generating generosity:
Take stock of your skills; what can you offer to an individual, an organization, or your community?
Make an offering to help or volunteer.
Once arranged, follow through even if you don’t feel like it.
Forgiveness
“Nearly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another. Perhaps your mother criticized your parenting
skills, your colleague sabotaged a project or your partner had an affair. These wounds can leave you with lasting
feelings of anger, bitterness or even vengeance — but if you don't practice forgiveness, you might be the one who
pays most dearly. By embracing forgiveness, you can also embrace peace, hope, gratitude and joy. Consider how
forgiveness can lead you down the path of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
Generally, forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. The act that hurt or offended
you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other,
positive parts of your life. Forgiveness can even lead to feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the
one who hurt you.
Page 15 of 38
Forgiveness doesn't mean that you deny the other person's responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn't minimize
or justify the wrong. You can forgive the person without excusing the act. Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that
helps you go on with life”. (Mayo Clinic)
Here are some benefits of letting go of grudges and bitterness:
Healthier relationships
Greater spiritual and psychological well-being
Less anxiety, stress and hostility
Lower blood pressure
Fewer symptoms of depression
Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse
Forgiveness activity:
Notice your negativity about a person who has done something you that have taken personally, whether or
not it was intentional; large or small.
Speak with a trusted friend or counsellor about your resentment, blame, sense of betrayal or whatever
arises.
Consider the value of forgiveness and its importance in your life
Reflect on that person’s behaviour and consider how they, too, may be suffering.
When you are ready, actively choose to forgive.
Consider a letting go ceremony alone or with another person or a group
Another technique that brings you in touch with your own compassion, instead of bitterness, is to breathe
in the suffering of the other person and breathe out love and compassion.
Enjoy the sensation of no longer being a victim.
Page 16 of 38
ENGAGEMENT Engagement is about intense concentration,
being ‘in the flow’ and fully engaged. Time
seems to stop. Research tells us that being
‘in the flow’ is a key component of
flourishing.
Engagement is when we become totally
committed and fully involved.
We know when we’ve been ‘engaged’ and
‘in-the’flow’ when we look back and realize
we were lost in the activity and not aware
that time was passing.
Pleasures in the moment may lead to
positivity. Engagement, however, has longer,
lasting effects than mere pleasures.
To listen to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi speak about the effortless and spontaneous flow of experience Watch the Ted
Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html
(Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow: the secret of happiness)
Engagement activities:
Learn new things
Pursue creativity
Ponder the world
Appreciate nature
Become absorbed in something you love
Know and use your strengths to engage
Engagement
http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_fl
ow.html
http://psychology.about.com/od/PositivePsychology/a/fl
ow.htm
***
Information sheet: Mental Wellness: Engagement
Page 17 of 38
RELATIONSHIPS As with positivity, relationships benefit from regular acts and
expressions of gratitude, generosity, and forgiveness.
Safe and loving relationships are respectful and both parties
contribute to the long-term success of relationships.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Conflict is a normal part of any health relationship. After all,
two people can’t expect to agree on everything, all the time.
Where does conflict come from?
Conflicts arise from differing needs. Everyone wants to feel
understood and supported. And we all have different ways to
feel comfortable and safe. And these differing needs create
our biggest challenges.
A conflict is more than a disagreement; there is always a
perception of threat to our safety or to our emotional
wellbeing. And conflicts get worse if they are ignored. And
conflicts trigger some of our strongest emotions.
The way to resolving conflicts is to build skills that turn conflicts into opportunities, such as:
1. NOT TAKING IT PERSONALLY: This is the most valuable skill when someone is reactive and blaming and
angry toward you - even when they seem to be pointing at you. They are distressed and frustrated and
need your kindness. We seem to be hard-wired with the habit of taking things personally, even when it is
the other person who is reacting. Sure, they may be pointing fingers and blaming us for something that
frustrates them…however, their reaction and their frustration belongs to them. It is not about us.
2. MANAG ING YOUR OWN STRESS LEVEL: When you are emotional, stressed, and reactive the next most
important skill is to manage your own stress level by remembering you can take time to look at what is
going on for you. Coming to our senses’ takes on new meaning when we apply it to calming ourselves
through our senses of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and smelling. Notice what soothes you.
3. REALLY LISTENING: The third most valuable skill is to listen – truly listen. Listening is about paying
attention to the feelings another person is expressing, even if your own emotions are strong. Stay aware
of and be respectful of differences.
4. USING HUMOUR: And the fourth skill is humour. At the right moment, without offending anyone, play
and humour can allow things to be said easily without intense emotion and stress.
Conflict often feels more threatening than it really is, because we bring to the conflict so much experience – such
as past traumas, shame, hurt, cultural abuse, and more from our early life experiences when we felt powerless. So,
first we need to reduce our stress while remaining calm and aware of what is going on. Control your emotions can
be easier said than done, but tolerating distress means to have methods of calming ourselves and not expecting
anyone else to do it for us.
Relationships
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/
08/09/the-relationship-between-happiness-
and-gratitude/
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eq8_confli
ct_resolution.htm
http://www.yukonwellness.ca/relationships.p
hp#.UTuaI9aR-E4
***
Information sheet: Mental Wellness: Relationships
Page 18 of 38
Healthy and unhealthy ways of managing and resolving conflict
Unhealthy responses to conflict: Healthy responses to conflict
An inability to recognize and respond to the
things that matter to the other person
The capacity to recognize and respond to the things
that matter to the other person
Explosive, angry, hurtful, and resentful reactions Calm, non-defensive, and respectful reactions
The withdrawal of love, resulting in rejection,
isolation, shaming, and fear of abandonment
A readiness to forgive and forget, and to move past
the conflict without holding resentments or anger
An inability to compromise or see the other
person’s side
The ability to seek compromise and avoid punishing
The fear and avoidance of conflict; the
expectation of bad outcomes
A belief that facing conflict head on is the best thing
for both sides
www.helpguide.org/mental/eq8_conflict_resolution.htm
Quick Stress Relief Stress interferes with our ability to: Notice another person’s nonverbal communication. Hear what they are really saying. Be aware of our own feelings. Know our needs Speak clearly and respectfully Relax our bodies Breathe easily Takes up a lot of our time and energy which we could be using for other things.
Managing and resolving conflict requires the ability to quickly reduce stress and bring your emotions into balance.
Being able to manage and relieve stress in the moment is the key to staying balanced, focused, and in control, no
matter what challenges you face. If you don’t know how to stay centered and in control of yourself, you will
become overwhelmed in conflict situations and unable to respond in healthy ways.
Psychologist, Connie Lillas (Conflict Resolution Skills), uses a driving analogy to describe the three most common
ways people respond when they’re overwhelmed by stress:
Foot on the gas. An angry or agitated stress response. You’re heated, keyed up, overly emotional, and unable to sit still.
Foot on the brake. A withdrawn or depressed stress response. You shut down, space out, and show very little energy or emotion.
Foot on both gas and brake. A tense and frozen stress response. You “freeze” under pressure and can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you’re extremely agitated.
Page 19 of 38
Trust and betrayal
Issues of trust and betrayal in relationships manifest with little
notice and can endure for generations. Safe and nurturing
relationships require the ability to develop trust and to
negotiate betrayals. For aboriginal people around the world, acts
of colonialism were major betrayals, at once personal and
societal.
According to Reina and Reina (Rebuilding Trust in the
Workplace), trust cannot be assumed in a relationship; we build trust in each of our relationships reciprocally and
over time. It builds on itself as we give and receive and learn about trust with everyone with whom we have a
relationship. A sense of betrayal is inevitable at some point in every relationship. The type of the betrayal may be
small or large. Betrayal can be intentional or unintentional.
Betrayal of Trust Not Intentional Intentional
Small Small Moderate
Large Moderate Great
Each relationship has a level of capacity for trust that can be betrayed and can grow. We relate variably with
everyone and differently over time in each of relationships. Here are three ways to look at trust:
Trusting our skills
Acknowledge people’s skills and abilities
Allow people to make decisions
Involve others and seek their input
Help people learn skills
Trusting our strength of character
Manage expectations
Establish boundaries
Delegate appropriately
Encourage mutually serving intentions
Keep agreements
Be consistent
Trusting communications
Share information
Tell the truth
Admit mistakes
Give and receive constructive feedback
Maintain confidentiality
Speak with good purpose
Adapted from: Reina and Reina, Rebuilding Trust in the Workplace
TRUST & BETRAYAL
http://www.reinatrustbuilding.com
Page 20 of 38
MEANING
According to Martin Seligman, a meaningful life is about
having a vision of what is important in life and making a
contribution to a positive human future.
Pursued for its own sake, it is independent from positivity,
engagement, relationships, and achievement though it
may contain one or more of all four aspects of flourishing
First of all, take time to clarify what is most important to
you and identify your strengths that will support you to
engage in or contribute to something we believe goes beyond self-interest.
Watch the youtube video: What makes you happy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As-g_dwgJig
Meaning clarifying activities:
Take stock of your strengths and what you value the most in life.
Write down your vision of a positive human future. What would make the world a better place?
Write down what you would like your grandchildren to say about what you did in life to contribute to a
positive human future.
Meaning What makes you happy? youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As-
g_dwgJig
Page 21 of 38
ACCOMPLISHMENT The fifth and last way to flourish is accomplishment. In Seligman’s book, Flourish, the concept of “accomplishment’
includes more than career or material achievement; they are activities for their own sake and regardless of
income.” (Seligman, Flourish)
The accomplishment being spoken of here is not for
pleasure, engagement or meaning, though these may also
be present.
Regardless of outcome, the activities pursued for
accomplishment are enjoyable and satisfying.
WHAT ARE THESE ACTIVITIES?
‘Accomplishing’ activities are different from one person to
the next, and you may pursue the activity with others.
Accomplishment activities:
Take two minutes to write down what you find most enjoyable and satisfying in life.
Next, priorize their importance in your life with 1. Being the most important and so on: 2. 3. …
Reflect on how these can be incorporated into your daily life.
Plan to do the things that are meaningful to you.
Accomplishment http://umbrellahealth.wordpress.com/?s=accomplishment&submit=Search
Page 22 of 38
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WELLNESS The circle, denoting the whole, can be divided in different ways. Two models of wellness are:
Wellness Medicine Wheel
A Holistic Model of Wellness
A Holistic Model of Wellness
www.yukonwellness.ca
Working with Balanced Models of Wellness
Every First Nation works with their own unique model of wellness established over generations. And there
are many ways to apply the teachings. In individual work, the person is guided to look into the ‘mirror’
and see what can be seen that would put their life back into balance after a period of grief, violence, or
poor health, including addiction and mental illness.
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Wellness Medicine Wheel
A holistic approach to wellness seeks to balance of all aspects of the medicine wheel. Wholeness is achieved when
all aspects of the holistic model are in balance.
“The teachings found on the Medicine Wheel create a bio-psychosocial and spiritual foundation for human
behaviour and interaction. The medicine wheel teachings are about walking the earth in a peaceful and good way,
they assist in helping to seek; healthy minds (East), strong inner spirits (South), inner peace(West) and strong
healthy bodies (North).
A Medicine Wheel can best be described as a mirror within, which everything about the human condition is
reflected back. It requires courage to look into the mirror and really see what is being reflected back about an
individual's life. It helps us with our creative "Vision", to see exactly where we are in life and which areas we need
to work on and develop in order to realize our full potential. It is a tool to be used for the upliftment and
betterment of humankind, healing and connecting to the Infinite.” (Laframboise and Sherbina, Dancing to Eagles
Spirit Society)
Yukon First Nations’ Mental Wellness Workbook, AHTF 2010.
Page 24 of 38
MENTAL ILLNESS
Page 25 of 38
MENTAL ILLNESS
Mental Problems and Illnesses
(including but not limited to):
Challenges to Mental Health Seasonal Affective Disorder
Grief
Diagnostic Statistical Manual Symptoms, Duration, and Presentation
Clinical Disorders Addiction and Mental Illness
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis
Personality Disorders Dependent Personality Traits/Disorder
Borderline Personality Traits/Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Traits/Disorder
What is Mental Illness?
“A mental illness can be defined as a health condition that changes a person’s thinking, feelings, or behavior (or all three) and that causes the person distress and difficulty in functioning. As with many diseases, mental illness is severe in some cases and mild in others.”
National Institutes of Health, USA
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CHALLENGES TO MENTAL HEALTH
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (S.A.D.) Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression (see Depression for more information) that typically
occurs each year during fall and winter in the north such as the Yukon due to the lower levels of light.
Light therapy boxes can offer effective treatment for SAD. Light box therapy may be effective on its own or in
combination with medication and counselling. All light boxes for SAD
treatment are designed do the same thing, but one may work better for you
than another. Be sure to consult with your doctor so that you get a light
therapy box that best suits your needs. (Mayo Clinic)
A light box mimics outdoor light. Researchers believe this type of light causes
a chemical change in the brain that lifts your mood and eases other
symptoms of SAD. Most people use light boxes for a minimum of 30 minutes
each morning.
GRIEF The death of someone close to us is one of life’s most stressful events, particularly in small communities based on
close kinship and cultural ties. Unexpected and premature deaths are difficult; also the deaths of Elders are
difficult for it is they who carry the cultural history, traditions, and language. And “when the death is from suicide,
family and friends must cope with sadness at the loss plus all their feelings of confusion and sometimes even
anger. It takes time to heal and each of us responds differently. We may need help to cope with the changes in our
lives. But in the end, coping effectively with bereavement is vital to our mental health.” (Canadian Mental Health
Association)
Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is
taken away. Grief takes time to heal and each of us grieves differently. Complicating grief in Yukon, and for
aboriginal people around the world, are the tremendous cultural and family losses related to residential school and
other colonial policies; many on-going today.
A supportive community response is the single-most important aspect of healing form grief for First Nation
families and communities. Significant and elaborate systems of clanship delineate traditional roles and
responsibilities when someone dies and for a year afterward.
Important responses from caregivers encourage someone grieving to:
Seek and accept support
Take care of themselves
Accept a referral to a medical or mental health practitioner if there is one or more of the following:
o Severe and persistent sense of guilt
o Changes in sleeping and eating
o Thoughts of suicide
o Feelings of hopelessness
o Slow speech and body movements
o Inability to function at home, school, or work
www.helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm
Page 27 of 38
DIAGNOSTIC STATISTICAL MANUAL
The Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) is a guide for medical and psychiatric practitioners that provides a
common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders. It has both scientific and non-
scientific bases and is both praised and criticized.
SYMPTOMS, DURATION, AND PRESENTATION Mental health problems may present as a clinical mental illness or disorder as described in the DSM which
describes specific symptoms or characteristics over time, often more than 6 months.
Alternatively, mental health problems may present as subclinical without all the necessary characteristics and
without the intensity or duration described in the DSM that, nevertheless, affect a person’s thinking, feelings, or
behaviour negatively and cause distress and challenges to mental well-being and functioning.
Symptoms tend to cluster. When symptoms are clustered together for a determined length of time a diagnosis can
be made. In addition to a diagnosis, other factors are considered, such as: medical; psychosocial and environmental;
and personality.
Medical factors may be factors for consideration when treating mental illnesses, such as diabetes; chronic and
persistent pain; and cancer.
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CLINICAL DISORDERS
ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS The concurrence of depression or anxiety with substance
abuse is common.
WHAT TO DO?
It is necessary to treat both at the same time
with a primary, but not exclusive, focus on the
one causing the most problems for the client
Match your intervention with the stage of change
they are in. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a
method of support and intervention that
recognizes that at any point in time people are in different stages of change. Effective support and
interventions are matched with the client’s stage of change. Clients may be mislabeled as ‘resistant’ when
it is really the intervention does not match the client’s stage of change.
Matching Stages of Change with Interventions
PRE-CONTEMPLATIVE
Description: Other people say they have an addiction but the person reports that they do not have a problem.
Screening question: You say you don’t have a substance abuse problem; does anyone else think you have a
problem?
Interventions:
Build trusting relationships
Reduce harm to self & others, such as harm reduction strategies (i.e.: nutrition, adequate clothing, and
needle exchange)
Provide general health information
Support family
Provide general public, community messaging about the negative effects of substance abuse and the
cost of it going untreated for the individual, their family, and their community
Have fun, safe, substance-free community events
CONTEMPLATION Description: People think they may have an addiction problem but they are not totally convinced.
Screening questions: Is there part of you who does and part of you who does not see this as a problem?
Interventions:
Invite self-reflection
Recognize their ambivalence: On one hand you say this and on the other hand that.
Suggest they may not be ready for change quite yet
Ask: What would the reasons be to change?
Ask “How will you know when you are ready for change?”
Addiction and Mental Health
Information sheet:
Matching Stages of Change with Interventions
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PREPARATION FOR CHANGE Description: People say that they need to change but changes have not begun yet.
Screening questions: What changes have you begun to think about?
Interventions:
Invite the person to begin to set personal goals with respect to social support, health, & recreation
Support without pressure; the time for cheerleading is later
Ask “When you are ready for change, what do you want to do?”
Support changes such as: delaying, changing context, switching time of day, & trying new social activities
CHANGE Description: People ready to change are changing one thing at a time in their life.
Screening questions: Have you tried to do anything differently this week?
Interventions:
Establish clear, attainable and measureable goals
Set up check-ins, follow-up with support network
Continue to address safety and other psychosocial, mental health, and medical concerns.
Be supportive without being too enthusiastic
RELAPSE PREPARATION AND STRATEGIES TO KEEP GOING Description: People are changing and are often deny any possibility of relapse.
Screening question: How are things changing for you?
Interventions:
Support, support, support - be a supportive cheerleader with encouragement and morale boosting
Tell them you have a no blame and no shame policy
Plan for crisis support
Develop alternatives to substance use
Plan for follow up together upon relapse
MAINTENANCE Description: People stabilize into a new lifestyle with changes; relapses are infrequent, short lived, or non-existent.
Interventions:
Celebrate with recognition privately or publicly
Review, in detail, the changes made
Update personal goals
Adapted from literature and training on Motivational Interviewing
Page 30 of 38
DEPRESSION Screening for depression includes observing:
Changes in mood
Changes in eating and/or sleeping
Decreases in energy and interests
Thoughts or plans not to live
WHAT TO DO?
Make a referral to a mental health or medical practitioner
Consult immediately with the RCMP and/ or mental health or medical practitioners if there are concerns
of harm to self or others
Share the following: “You may be aware that if we challenge our beliefs and conclusions (our thinking and
emotions) we can change our behaviour. It works the other way, also. Change our behaviour and our
thinking and emotions change. Encourage person to keep going. Go for a walk. A change in our behaviour
can change our thinking which can change the way we feel.” www.yukonwellness.ca
Discuss perspective and how personal it is: Using the theatre scenario: woman gets up and angrily and
loudly leaves the man she is with…various perspectives from the audience
As mentioned, we can change our behaviour by challenging and reflecting on our thoughts and feelings.
www.yukonwellness.ca Invite people to be reflective on self rather than focus on others.
Practice mindfulness – in which we mind the mind or increase our awareness of what we are thinking &
feeling. Our thoughts and beliefs influence how we feel, which leads to healthy and sometimes unhealthy
behaviours.
Increase their ability to tolerate distress by brainstorming self-care options, alternative ways of looking at
what is distressing, time out options
Teach thought substitution, thought stopping, and visualization techniques for changing one’s own
experience
Encourage someone who is depressed to turn to their own spiritual beliefs for comfort and healing; such
as prayer, meditation, smudging, and other spiritual healing practices familiar to the person
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ANXIETY Screening for anxiety includes observing:
Intense anxiety
Bodily experiences of anxiety
Recurring thoughts
Compelling behaviours
Avoidance of situations
WHAT TO DO?
Refer to a medical or mental health practitioner when your screening indicates the presence of anxiety
Support anxiety management techniques, including: breathing exercises, progressive deep muscle
relaxation, mindfulness, and talking to someone you trust
Lifestyle activities that promote mental health, such as physical activity and good nutrition
Cognitive and behavioural strategies that change the mind, such as:
Invite alternative ways to look at things in order to avoid thinking in terms of black and white; this or
that; with no in-between options
To illustrate how perspective varies from one person to the next: there are no absolutes; share the
example of a woman getting up in a theatre and angrily and loudly leaving the man she is with.
Discuss the various and possible perspectives from the audience, even with so little information: a
woman may feel proud of the woman or afraid as she remembers the times she has not been
assertive herself in challenging situations with her x-boyfriend; a man may reflect on his own past
social humiliations and feel sad for the man; a teenager feels anxious about beginning dating if that
is what could happen.
Increase reflections and awareness of thoughts and feelings
Increase their ability to tolerate distress by brainstorming self-care options, alternative ways of
looking at situations
Teach thought substitution, thought stopping, and visualization techniques for changing one’s own
experience
Encourage someone who is depressed to follow their own spiritual beliefs for comfort and healing; such
as prayer, meditation, smudging, and other spiritual healing practices familiar to the person
Page 32 of 38
PSYCHOSIS Psychosis is a condition that affects the mind in terms of
the person’s ability to determine what is real and what is
not real characterized by:
Confused Thinking
Changed Feelings
Different Experiences – hallucinations
Faulty Beliefs – delusions
Symptoms by phase
Prodromal Phase includes changes in thoughts
and behaviours but no active psychosis
Acute Phase includes symptoms of psychosis
Recovery Phase includes medical treatment and
re-establishing daily activities and healthy relationships
From: Reality Rules brochure
WHAT TO DO?
Refer to the Health Centre, Mental Health Services, or Physician
Consult and collaborate with the Medical Team
Provide person with practical support regarding basic needs, such as: food and housing
Support families
Ensure safety of client, self and others
PSYCHOSIS
***
Information brochure: Reality Rules!
Page 33 of 38
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
Personality disorders have three shared characteristics:
Difficulty in relationships
Inflexible thinking
Blame outside factors for their own experience
The following selected personality traits and disorders may create challenges to health and social workers with
respect to support, interventions, and community response.
DEPENDENT PERSONALITY TRAITS & DISORDER The tendency toward dependency includes a felt need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging
behaviour and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts with 5 or
more of the following signs and symptoms:
Dependent on others for emotional and physical support
View others as strong and capable
Inadequate and helpless self-image
Afraid of being unable to look after themselves
As caregivers we can be convinced we are helping when really encouraging dependence. People with dependent
personalities can be very accommodating, agreeable, but seek attention and advice excessively.
WHAT TO DO?
Establish clear boundaries
Establish safe and secure routines for providing assistance.
Seek regular supervision
Seek consultation from a mental health clinician or medical practitioner
Ensure worker self-care
Manage crises with the minimum of support needed
Encourage competence
Page 34 of 38
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY TRAITS/DISORDER Persons with BPD have patterns of instability in their interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions; and
marked impulsivity beginning in early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts with five or more of the
following signs and symptoms:
Emotionally unstable
Issues of self-image and identity
Black and white thinking that can switch around quickly
Harm to self
WHAT TO DO?
Educate team members and colleagues about the need for effective team communication and
collaboration. Be prepared for, and even predict, rejection/anger/ and notice when groups of helpers are
in intense disagreement. When a community of caregivers and family members are conflicted and
divided in the care of a client/family member, the possibility of the client having BPD must be considered.
Dualistic thinking (black and white and either/or thinking) may set one caregiver against another as they
align and support the client who fluctuates in there interpersonal relationships from idealization of some
caregivers and devaluation of others. Good guy/bad guy agreements may work to diffuse potentially
unsafe and volatile interpersonal situations.
Refer the person with BPD to Mental Health Services
The best practices for treating someone with BPD is developing skills that focus on:
Increasing distress tolerance
Regulating emotions
Building interpersonal effectiveness
Mindfulness meditation
Finding alternative
Treat the person with BPD as competent with rationale and decision-making qualities upon which they
can build
Seek supervision or mental health consultation that supports your own awareness of the dynamics of the
illness and self-management techniques of caregivers
Page 35 of 38
NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY TRAITS/DISORDER A person with narcissistic traits demonstrates a pattern of grandiosity in fantasy or behaviour, need for admiration,
and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts and includes the:
Excessive need for attention and control
Strong reactions to criticism
WHAT TO DO?
Find out what is important to them and what they will gain from behaving differently
Seek mental health or medical consultation particularly when there are safety concerns.
Seek support from a mental health clinician or medical practitioner for a consultation that supports your own knowledge of the dynamics of the disorder and self-management techniques for caregivers
Page 36 of 38
SUMMARY This First Nation Mental Health: Curriculum on Mental Wellness and Mental Illness provides information,
consultation, recommendations for practice, and skill development for First Nation health and social service
workers for their benefit and for the benefit of the individuals, families, and communities with whom they work.
During its development, the curriculum was offered to Yukon First Nations over a 6 month period. The workshops
yielded valuable information and focused feedback from participants. Most notably, the wellness information was
well received. In particular, practical information around nutrition and the concepts of positive psychology were
systematically introduced and welcomed by participants, being consistent with their preference for strength-based
approaches Also noteworthy, not a single teleconference or face-to-face workshop went by without discussions
and case consultations related to the concurrence of addictions and mental illness, and the concurrence of mental
health challenges and ongoing historic and current safety concerns. Participants sought consultation regarding
how to understand and how to respond effectively with clients and communities regarding addictions and past
traumas. The role of safety in mental health is consistent with the literature on the social determinants of health
and reminiscent of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in which physiological and safety needs are foundational to
health.
Supplementary resources were created in response to feedback from participants to fill gaps in knowledge and to
make materials available for health and social service workers as reminders and to share with people in their
communities.
Participants and the facilitator report that there was generally adequate breadth of coverage on the topics,
consultations, and suggested interventions. On-going or more depth is recommended in the future regarding:
Addiction and mental illness; and related interventions
Training in effective interventions that address violence, particularly but not limited to: violence against
women and Elders resulting in unhealthy lifestyles and poor mental health
On-going case consultation for health and social service workers regarding mental wellness and mental
illness
Further development on the the Meaning and Accomplishment components of Seligman’s Flourish for
greater meaning and applicaton in the First Nation context
The curriculum is designed for delivery in part or in whole; and more can be added, such as the inclusion of
additional mental disorders and recommended interventions.
Page 37 of 38
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